Sunny Skies and Silver Linings: A Recap of ISTAT EMEA
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The 2018 installment of ISTAT EMEA, held 23–25 September, found the event returning to Prague for the third time — first in 2008 and again in 2015 — for several days of networking, meetings, education, discussion, presentations and fun, as delegates congregated at the event's official host property, the Hilton Prague.
Before the panel discussions began, ISTAT President Doug Runte, managing director and head of aviation research, Deutsche Bank, welcomed delegates to the Congress Hall in the Hilton Prague's lower level, noting that attendance at ISTAT EMEA (1,600 plus) now roughly equals ISTAT's total membership in 2007, and that ISTAT membership continues to climb, with the society boasting more than 5,130 members at present.
Overall, the sentiment from panelists throughout the event was that the industry remains healthy and growing but there are signs of caution. During his keynote address, Conor McCarthy, managing director and project oversight, PlaneConsult, detailed the myriad changes in the industry during his 40-year career. "We have come through a dramatic revolution in our industry," he observed. "But, we've already grabbed a lot of the low-hanging fruit. The next steps for growth and evolution are going to be more of a challenge. I've given up trying to forecast what's going to happen, though. Instead, I'd advise anyone to position yourself in the best possible place to weather any potential downturn. It's a broad piece of advice, but there's simply no way to predict what's around the bend."
Panel discussions covered a wide range of big-picture topics, including Brexit, a potential pilot shortage, fleet planning strategies, and a host of other areas. And delegates were offered numerous networking opportunities in any one of the designated meeting spaces and events. The event closed out in style with the Cocktail Reception & Networking Dinner at the Prague Municipal House, followed by the After Party at the Hilton's Cloud9 Sky Bar.
ISTAT extends a sincere and heartfelt thank you to everyone who attended or participated in ISTAT EMEA —especially the sponsors for their generous contributions, which help keep member costs low and value high.
Look for more ISTAT EMEA coverage in the winter edition of Jetrader.
Presentations and photos from ISTAT EMEA are now available via the ISTAT mobile app (for all event attendees) and the ISTAT website. Please make plans to join us next year for ISTAT EMEA in Berlin.
